COUNCIL PRESIDENT TODD GLORIA COUNCILMEMBER KEVIN L.
FAULCONER CITY OF SAN DIEGO
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: July 22, 2013 Contact: Katie Keach (Gloria): 619-235-5268 Matt Awbrey (Faulconer): 619-929-0089
Gloria, Faulconer deliver bipartisan message of stability to San Diegans
Council President and senior councilmember assure city residents services will continue to be delivered despite Mayors scandals
San Diego Today, Council President Todd Gloria and senior Councilmember Kevin L. Faulconer told San Diegans that the City Council is committed to moving the City of San Diego forward despite the scandals that have paralyzed the office of Mayor Bob Filner. "The City Council will not lose focus of our purpose at City Hall," said Gloria. "San Diegans set our agenda, and we're making progress responding to neighborhood needs and developing policies that strengthen our effective and efficient local government." Potholes will be filled, trash and recyclables will be collected, and 911 calls will be answered, said Faulconer. While Mayor Filner focuses on defending his inexcusable actions, the people of San Diego have nine Councilmembers representing every neighborhood working to hold the bureaucracy accountable to ensure City services are delivered to residents and businesses. Federal, state and local leaders, as well as a bipartisan super-majority of the City Council that includes Gloria and Faulconer, have called on Filner to resign amid credible allegations that he has sexual harassed women working for and doing business with the City. Filner admitted he has failed to fully respect and intimidated women. Meanwhile, the FBI is reportedly investigating Filners acceptance of a $100,000 check from a developer in exchange for supporting a land-use agreement. During this time of civic turmoil, Gloria and Faulconer highlighted that the City Charter grants the City Council certain authority, including: Individual members of Council can communicate with the Mayors designees to ensure City business is carried out. The Mayor is required to cooperate fully with the Council, including supplying requested information concerning the budget process and fiscal condition of the City. The City Council may summon any City official or department head to appear before the Council or any committee of the Council to provide information and answer questions.
The City Council has the power to introduce legislation. This year alone the Council initiated and approved several measures, including funds to help recruit and retain police officers, a policy to incorporate suggestions from San Diegans to prioritize the Citys nearly $1 billion backlog of street and infrastructure repairs, and an ordinance to improve neighborhood parking and traffic safety. In the coming months, the City Council will start to explore retention issues impacting the FireRescue Department, work with the American Red Cross to implement better disaster response planning, examine the Citys financial reserve policy, and consider an update to the Managed Competition Program. Gloria and Faulconer reminded San Diegans of ways they can contact the City to report problems or request services. Important City Phone Numbers Building permits (619) 446-5000 Business licenses (619) 615-1500 City Fraud, Waste and Abuse hotline (866) 809-3500 Graffiti hotline (619) 525-8522 Noise complaints/code violations (619) 236-5500 Parking citations (866) 470-1308 Parks and recreation information (619) 525-8213 Police non-emergency hotline (619) 531-2000 (858) 484-3154 (North San Diego) Repairs: pothole/sidewalk/street light/traffic signal (619) 527-7500 Trash and recycling collection (858) 694-7000 Water bill (619) 515-3500 Water leak (619) 515-3525 San Diegans can go to [Link]/citizenservices to find websites and phone numbers for other City services, and [Link]/citycouncil to contact their respective Councilmember. ###
